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☆ Finland, the happiest country in the world for 7 years running, to offer second free happiness masterclass—here’s how to apply
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Finland has been the happiest country in the world for seven years in a row. Now, it's inviting people to learn the ways of the Finnish and how everyone can "hack their happiness." After hosting a successful 2023 masterclass in happiness, the country's tourism sector, Visit Finland and Helsinki Partners, are welcoming a new group of people to learn the ways of the Finnish people. During the five-day masterclass, participants will learn from a team of three "Happiness Hackers" who will share hacks they can apply to their everyday lives, according to a press release shared with CNBC Make It. The happiness hacks will highlight four key themes of Finnish happiness:Nature and lifestyle Health and balance Design and everyday Food and well-being"Finnish happiness boils down to the simple things in life: connecting with nature, caring for one's mind and body, and appreciating design and art around us," Heli Jimenez, Senior Director of International Marketing at Business Finland, stated in a press release.

Persons: Heli Jimenez Organizations: Helsinki Partners, CNBC, Health, Marketing, Business Finland Locations: Finland

☆ Putin scores a resounding win, but what’s next for Russia?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Putin poses for a picture with his wife, Lyudmila, and daughters, Yekaterina and Maria. Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images Putin rides a horse during a vacation in Southern Siberia in August 2009. Dmitry Astakhov/RIA Novosti/AFP via Getty Images Putin plays with his dogs Yume, left, and Buffy at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, in March 2013. Chris McGrath/Getty Images Putin and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in November 2018. Getty Images Putin speaks with American right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson during an interview in February 2024.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, ”, Dmitry Kiselyov, Mikhail Mishustin, Ukraine –, Kiselyov, “, Maria Putina, Archivio GBB, ZUMA Press Wire Putin, Laski, Maria, Vladimir, Anatoly Sobchak, Lyudmila, Yekaterina, Boris Yeltsin, Yeltsin, Fidel Castro, Reuters Putin, George W, Bush, Stephen Jaffe, Camp David, Brooks Kraft, Alexey Druzhinin, Alexey Nikolsky, Mikhail Metzel, Ivan Sekretarev, AP Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Dmitry Astakhov, Buffy, Angela Merkel, Jochen Lübke, Thomas Bach, Medvedev, Vladimir Konstantinov, Alexei Chalyi, Sergei Aksyonov, Sergei Ilnitsky, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Alexander Lukashenko, Merkel, Francois Hollande, Petro Poroshenko, Mykola Lazarenko, Barack Obama, Ban, Chip Somodevilla, Turkey Andrei Karlov, Karlov, Donald Trump, Chris McGrath, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, LUDOVIC MARIN, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Eliot Blondet, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Biden, Sergey Lavrov, Denis Balibouse, Macron, Sergey Ponomarev, Mikhail Gorbachev, —, Alexander Nemenov, Alexey Danichev, Xi Jinping, Pavel Byrkin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Pavel Bednyakov, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Tucker Carlson, Zuma Press Putin, Maxim Shemetov, – what’s, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, ” Putin Organizations: CNN, coy, Kremlin, Getty, Russian, ZUMA Press, Putin, KGB, ZUMA Press Wire, Getty Images, Reuters, US, White House, Camp, Brooks, Brooks Kraft LLC, RIA Novosti, AP, AFP, International Olympic, Crimean, Ukrainian, United Nations, UN, Assembly, Russian Foreign Ministry, Sputnik, World, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Macron, SPUTNIK, New York Times, Central Clinical Hospital, AP Putin, Belarus, State Russian Museum, AP North Korean, Vostochny, Tucker Carlson Network, Zuma Press Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Putin Russia, Russian, Bakhmut, St . Petersburg, Leningrad, Germany, Moscow, AFP, Kazan, Cuba, Soviet Union, Southern Siberia, Russia's Tver, Novo, Ogaryovo, Hanover, Sevastopol, Crimea, Belarusian, Minsk, Belarus, France, Turkey, Helsinki, Finland, Buenos Aires, Ukrainian, Paris, Geneva, Switzerland, Taganrog, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Tsiolkovsky, Russia's, North Korea, United States

☆ I moved to Finland for the music scene, and now see why it's the happiest country in the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Seraphine Meschberger loved concerts in Finland so much she'd fly there from Switzerland to attend. In November 2022, I decided to move to Finland for concerts and music after graduating from university. I decided to move when flights to Finland got more expensive after the pandemicWhen I visited Finland for concerts, I stayed in Airbnbs and hostels. AdvertisementI think Finland is one of the 'happiest' countries in the world and I prefer it to SwitzerlandSince moving to Finland eight months ago, I've been to 16 concerts and two music festivals. AdvertisementIn this regard, Finland is very similar to Switzerland, but I still prefer Finland.

Persons: Seraphine Meschberger, —, she'd, Michael Monroe, I've, I'd, Meschberger, I'm, hasn't Organizations: Service, McDonald's, didn't Locations: Finland, Switzerland, Helsinki, Finnish, Zurich, Airbnbs, Ruisrock, Meschberger

☆ I’m a psychologist in Finland, the No. 1 happiest country in the world: 4 phrases we use every day
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Frank Martela | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

For the last six years, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world. I've lived here most of my life, and as a psychologist and happiness researcher, I'm often asked: what exactly makes people in Finland so satisfied with their lives? However, research has shown that those most desperately seeking happiness tend to be less happy. 'Who has happiness should hide it'In Finland, we tend to believe that if you've found happiness, you shouldn't show it. 'The pessimist will never be disappointed'This is an old Finnish saying without any clear origin.

Persons: I've, I'm, you've, Eino Leino, It's, Charles Peirce, Faber Organizations: Nordic Locations: Finland, Helsinki, American, Rome

☆ Opinion: Intelligence briefings for Trump are risky – but so is denial of briefings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Opinion Frederick D. Baron | Dennis Aftergut | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The White House reportedly plans to follow tradition and authorize national security briefings for Trump after he officially becomes his party’s nominee at the Republican National Convention in July. Serious financial need is a top reason for denial of clearances for federal government positions requiring access to classified national security information, due to vulnerability to bribery or coercion. Given the risks posed by Trump’s access to national security intelligence, we must ask whether Biden’s asymmetrical belief in sticking to political norms is an Achilles heel. In opting to provide intelligence briefings to candidate Trump, they are likely to impose conditions on the briefings for security reasons. In granting intelligence briefings to his rival, he clearly reasoned that preserving a nonpartisan tradition was the wisest decision at this difficult moment in the nation’s history.

Persons: Frederick D, Baron, Dennis Aftergut, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Frederick Baron, Cooley, Biden, Trump, Jamie Raskin, Robert Hur’s, Jack Smith, Raskin, “, Putin, ”, Steve Benen, John Bolton, Obama, John Brennan, Adam Schiff, • Organizations: of National Security, Department of Justice, Intelligence, Defending American Democracy, CNN, Trump, White, Republican National Convention, Sensible, Southern District of, Maryland, Foreign Relations, Helsinki Trump, NATO, MSNBC, Mar, National Security Council, National Security, CIA, House Intelligence, Thursday’s State, Union Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Russia, Helsinki, “, New York, Thursday’s

☆ Amer Sports losses narrow as China sales fuel holiday-quarter revenue growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In fiscal 2023, the company lost $208.8 million, but its losses narrowed from $230.9 million in fiscal 2022. Between 2020 and 2022, Amer grew sales in the region from 8.3% of total revenue to 14.8%. Sales in Greater China jumped by 45% and all three of the company's segments saw "solid growth." In 2023, sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa represented about 33% of total revenue, down from 36% in 2022. North America made up about 39.5% of sales in 2023, down from 42.4% of sales in 2022.

Persons: Wilson, Amer, Salomon, Sellers, China's, Amer's, James Zheng, Zheng, it's Organizations: Amer Sports, New York Stock Exchange, Lousiville Slugger, CNBC, Wall, FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments, Revenue Locations: Amer, New York City, U.S, China, Wilson, Louisville, Helsinki, Finnish, Greater China, Asia, Europe, East, Africa, North America, APAC

☆ I flew on Finnair's Airbus A350 between New York and Helsinki in economy. It's now one of my go-to airlines for crossing the Atlantic.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I recently flew between New York and Helsinki on Finnair's Airbus A350-900 in economy. Finnair is now my go-to for long-haul flying despite an inconsistent weight policy for carry-ons. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementI recently traveled all the way from New York City to Finland's northernmost municipality of Utsjoki for a chance to see the aurora lights. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Airbus, Service, Scandinavian Airlines, Business Locations: New York, Helsinki, New York City, Finland's, Utsjoki, Lapland

☆ The two-letter word helping this lender buck the delinquency storm
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But that’s not an accident,” Max Levchin, Affirm’s CEO and a co-founder of PayPal, told CNN in a recent interview. Levchin credits a willingness to say a two-letter word, one that’s not exactly associated with the surging BNPL industry, N-O. It’s that we are honest when we tell them, ‘Hey, we don’t think you should borrow right now.’”Affirm started saying “no” more often in the spring of 2022. That’s when Levchin started observing signs of “financial stress” as inflation surged and gas prices approached record highs. “Say you’re asking to borrow to buy an $800 TV and we really don’t think it’s healthy for you, financially…We can say, ‘That’s too much now.

Persons: “ We’re, that’s, ” Max Levchin, Levchin, “ It’s, ’ ”, ”, “, Max Levchin, Gross, we’ll, ” Levchin, it’s, BNPL, There’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, PayPal, CNN, New York Fed, Target, Walmart, Royal, American Airlines, NY Fed, Federal Reserve, Biden, Trump Locations: New York, Helsinki, Finland, Royal Caribbean, Covid

☆ Bikepacker Turned His Lifestyle Into a Business That Covers His Costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They started running at me shouting — most of them had machetes,” Ridley told Business Insider in a video call. AdvertisementLiving on $6 a dayRidley, now 33, is a full-time “bikepacker” who has been traveling the world for eight years. His solo travels started with nights in hostels and traveling by buses and trains. Ridley’s YouTube channel, where he shares short smartphone videos of his rides, began growing around the pandemic. Darsy turned her hobby of documenting their travels into a professional YouTube channel that has become her source of income.

Persons: —, Tristan Ridley, “, ” Ridley, Ridley, bikepacker ”, ”, Tristan Ridley “, I'm, ” —, Tristan Ridley Ridley, Sophie Darsy, Ryan Ellison, Darsy, influencer Gaby Beckford, Valtteri Heinila, Heinila, “ I'm Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube Locations: Papua New Guinea, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Australia, Southeast Asia, China, Central Asia, Stockholm, Helsinki, Singapore

The staff member, Kyle Parker, is the senior Senate adviser for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Commission. The commission is led by members of Congress and staffed by congressional aides. It is influential on matters of democracy and security and has been vocal in supporting Ukraine. A confidential report by the commission’s director and general counsel, which The New York Times reviewed, said that the equipment transfer could make Mr. Parker an unregistered foreign agent. It said that Mr. Parker had traveled Ukraine’s front lines wearing camouflage and Ukrainian military insignia and had hired a Ukrainian official for a U.S. government fellowship over the objections of congressional ethics and security officials.

Persons: Kyle Parker, Parker Organizations: Capitol Hill, U.S . Commission, Security, Cooperation, Helsinki Commission, New York Times Locations: Russia, Europe, Helsinki, Ukraine

☆ I was in Moscow the day Putin invaded Ukraine, and some Russians were in tears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russian police officers detain a woman during an unsanctioned protest rally against the military invasion on Ukraine, March,6, 2022, in Central Moscow, Russia. These quickly ceased when they saw Russian colleagues in tears, whose life savings had halved overnight. Russian friends began referring to Tbilisi as the "new Constantinople," referencing the city where anti-Bolshevik Russians fleeing the Communist revolution had taken refuge a century before. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets French President Emmanuel Macron (R) on February 07, 2022 in Moscow, Russia. I stood at the glass window silently as the Russian border guard inspected my passport and now useless work permit.

Persons: —, Cameron Manley, Russia's, didn't, Vladimir Putin, Putin idi nakhui, Putin, Mir, Pushkin, Konstantin Zavrazhin, Alexey Malgavko, Stringer, Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Karen Minasyan, pragmatically, gossiped, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Service, Business, REUTERS, National Guard, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Bolshevik, Communist, Kremlin Press, AP, Saint Locations: Edinburgh, Scotland, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia's, Europe, Russia, Central Moscow, Russian, Omsk, Kyiv, Armed Forces of Ukraine, seeping, Belarus, Yerevan, Armenia, AFP, Istanbul, Dubai, Tbilisi, Constantinople, St Petersburg, Helsinki, West, Switzerland, Saint Petersburg, Finland

☆ Russia was ridiculed at the start of the war. Two years on, it has reasons to be confident
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Internal political frictions and the replacement of popular military chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi has also fueled concerns over military strategy going forward. "I think for Ukraine, there's really quite minimal difference between a president who can't deliver lethal aid and a president who won't deliver lethal aid. Russia's President Vladimir Putin listens while then-U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, in 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles while visiting an aviation plant on February 21, 2024, in Kazan, Russia. "The dispute over mobilization is happening at a time when most authorized U.S. military aid is close to exhausted and Congress has yet to pass a new aid package."

Persons: Moscow —, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, there's, James Nixey, that's, Putin, Donald, Trump, Nixey, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Brendan Smialowski, Alexei Navalny, Kurt Volker, he'd, Avdiivka, Volker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, David Kirichenko, Kirichenko Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Kyiv —, U.S, Russian, AFP, NATO, CNBC, Analysts, Institute for, Russia, Manpower, Kremlin, Center for, Armed Forces of, Bloomberg Locations: Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Avdiivka, Eurasia, Helsinki, Finland, West, U.S, Russian, Kazan, Donetsk, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ China’s climate targets at risk as coal power approvals rose in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China, the world’s top carbon polluter, is at risk of falling short on its climate targets after approving dozens of new coal plants, according to research published Thursday. In just two years, the country has approved 218 GW of new coal power, enough to supply electricity to the whole of Brazil. China approved 114 gigawatts (GW) of coal power capacity in 2023, up 10% from a year earlier. China’s total power capacity is already sufficient to meet demand, but its inefficient grid is unable to deliver electricity where it is needed, especially across provincial borders, encouraging more plant construction. “This risks significant financial problems for coal power plant operators and potential pushback against the energy transition,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, CREA’s chief analyst.

Persons: CREA, ”, Lauri Myllyvirta Organizations: CNN, Global Energy Monitor, Research, Energy, Clean Locations: China, Helsinki, Brazil

☆ Putin looms over a third successive US election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —“Russia, Russia, Russia.”Ex-President Donald Trump’s scathing catch phrase for a torrent of investigations during his administration also serves as an apt catch-all for the current meltdown over Moscow roiling US politics. But Russia and its leader, whom President Joe Biden described as a “crazy S.O.B.” at a Wednesday fundraiser, won’t go away. All the ways Putin is playing in US politicsPutin is advancing Russian interests against the US on multiple fronts. Putin recently formalized his warming ties with North Korean tyrant Kim Jong Un by presenting him with a new limousine. The Russian leader was particularly incensed by the US-led operation to topple Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, won’t, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ukraine –, –, Alexander Smirnov, “, Trump, Smirnov, Biden, it’s, Putin can’t, ” Douglas, Alexey Navalny, Biden lambasts Trump, ” Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, he’s, he’d, Mike Turner, Ksenia, Paul Whelan –, Evan Gershkovich, Geopolitically, Kim Jong Un, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Moammar Gadhafi, Hillary Clinton, Robert Mueller, “ We’ll, Mueller Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, United States, European NATO, ”, Moscow, House Republicans, GOP, CIA, NATO, Republican Party, Republicans, Republican, Trump, Marine, Wall Street, Putin, Biden, US, Democratic Locations: Russia, Moscow, United States, China, Soviet, East Germany, United, Ukraine, Russian, European, Washington, Asia, Sweden, Finland, Berlin –, Europe, Ukrainian, California, North Korea, Iran, Crimea, Helsinki, Geneva

☆ Finland, which shares a border with Russia, plans to build 300 new shooting ranges as interest in national defense surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Finland plans to open new shooting ranges due to a surge in interest following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish government aims to increase the number of civilian shooting ranges from 670 to about 1,000 by 2030. Since existing shooting ranges also cater to other users like hunters and the police, more facilities are required due to heavy usage. AdvertisementThere are about 670 shooting ranges for civilians in Finland — down from over 2,000 before the year 2000. Meanwhile, the Finnish defense ministry plans to "safeguard the activities of Finland's shooting ranges and promote the establishment of new shooting ranges," a spokesperson told the Guardian.

Persons: —, Russia —, People shouldn't, Jukka Kopra Organizations: Nordic, NATO, Service, Yle, Finns, People, National Coalition, Guardian, Helsinki, US, Kremlin Locations: Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Finnish

☆ US Army says it could run out of funding to protect Europe and Africa without Ukraine's aid package
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA US Army official has warned that it could run out of money for essential international global operations if the government fails to provide further funding for Ukraine. The unnamed official told CNN that the Army is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to support Ukraine, including funds that were initially intended to be used as part of the Europe and Africa Command budget. The Senate last week passed a $95 billion emergency defense-aid bill that could support Ukraine, Israel, and Tawain. A spokesperson for the US Army told BI that "it's important we receive money — now." AdvertisementThe Army official told CNN that it "would cease to exist" if funds weren't allocated from another area within the overall budget.

Persons: —, Diego Herrera Carcedo, isn't, Kamala Harris's, Army Christine Wormuth, Peter, Paul, I'm, Wormuth, Kostiantyn, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Putin, YURI KADOBNOV Organizations: Service, US Army, Ukraine, CNN, Army, Africa Command, Business, Republicans, US Command, Anadolu Agency, Getty, BI, NATO, Munich, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Norway's Intelligence Service, Sky News, Trump, Morris Air National Guard Base Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Israel, Africa, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast, Germany, Ukraine Ukraine, Russia, Avdiivka, Armed Forces of Ukraine, China, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Helsinki, US Army Europe, Arizona

☆ Grandparents’ support may lower risk of maternal depression, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —When it comes to a mom’s mental health, grandparents are a big deal, according to a new study. The connection between access to grandparents’ help and lower use of antidepressants was especially strong in mothers who were separated from their partners, the study said. “Grandparents are an important source of support to families with children, and support from others is well-known to protect individuals from depression,” Metsä-Simola said via email. There were instances when grandparents might have a negative impact on the mother’s health. While such support may come from grandparents, families who don’t have that help aren’t at a loss, she said.

Persons: ”, Niina, ’, “, Simola, ” It’s, Lynne McIntyre, McIntyre, can’t, ” McIntyre Organizations: CNN, University of Helsinki, AFIN Research, Autonomous University of Barcelona Locations: Finland, Spain

☆ Russia's military alliances are giving it a major edge — just as Ukraine's are faltering
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A closer relationship with ChinaChina and Russia have deepened their military ties in recent years with the help of arms sales and joint military exercises. It has hosted Russian military drills, soldiers, and equipment, and enabled the transportation of Russian weapons close to Ukraine's borders. The situation is looking bleak for UkraineThe support from Russia's allies matters, especially when paired with the country's soaring defense budget. Its military appears to have a major edge over Ukraine as the country's financial and military support from its allies is faltering. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Senate passed a $95 billion emergency defense-aid bill that could support Ukraine, Israel, and Tawain — but the bill is expected to face stiff opposition by Republicans, BI previously reported.

Persons: —, That's, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Nils Andreas Stensones, Stensones, Trump, Putin, YURI KADOBNOV, Patrick Bury Organizations: Ukraine, Service, Norway's Intelligence Service, Sputnik, Moscow Times, UN, North, European Council, Foreign Relations, UK's Ministry of Defence, Reuters, University of Bath, Putin, Trump, Republicans Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Europe, Ukrainian, China China, Japan, Russian, Ukraine's, Helsinki, Israel

☆ Former PM Alexander Stubb wins Finnish presidency, narrowly defeating ex-top diplomat Pekka Haavisto
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Haavisto conceded defeat after a projection by the Finnish public broadcaster YLE showing a win for Stubb was released Sunday night. "This has been a fair, great race," Stubb told Haavisto after the result was clear. Several polls indicated Stubb, who has also served as Finland's foreign, finance and European affairs minister, was the favorite to win the presidency. During the election campaign, Stubb and Haavisto largely agreed on Finland's foreign policy and security priorities. Haavisto was Finland's top diplomat in 2019-2023 and the main negotiator of its entry into NATO.

Persons: Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Haavisto, Stubb, Sauli Niinistö, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Nordic, NATO, National Coalition Party, YLE, Helsinki City Hall, Union, Washington, Kyiv, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, Finland, United States, Russia, China, Moscow, Europe

☆ Finland's New President Sees No Limit to NATO Ties, Ukraine Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

He said he agreed with his predecessor Sauli Niinisto "who said that we need a more European NATO". He would be "a Western president in many ways" and lean towards the United States, Britain and Nordic neighbours when it came to setting the tone of foreign policy, he told Reuters. "My starting point is, paraphrasing (European Central Bank President) Mario Draghi, whatever it takes," Stubb said. During his election campaign Stubb said Finland should be an active NATO member and seek to have some NATO troops stationed on its territory. Stubb is a keen amateur athlete and triathlon champion - though he has said he will cut down on sport once he becomes Finland's 13th president.

Persons: Anne Kauranen, Alexander Stubb, Sauli Niinisto, Mario Draghi, Stubb, Johanna Vuorelma, Vuorelma, Markku Jokisipila, Suzanne Innes, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, NATO, Reuters, European Investment Bank, European University Institute, Nordic, Ukraine, Central Bank, Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland's Centre, Parliamentary Studies, National Coalition Party Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Europe, Florence, United States, Britain, British

But Finland's national carrier Finnair said Friday that it started asking passengers this week voluntarily and anonymously hop onto a scale with their hand luggage at the country's main airport in Helsinki, the airline said Friday. Passengers boarding onto European and long-haul flights won't be “penalized for their weight,” and “the numbers are kept discreet, away from prying eyes,” she added. Finnair has chosen the latter, but safety authorities require that the survey is renewed every five years. The last time Finnair weighed passengers was in 2018. In June, New Zealand’s national airline also weighed passengers before boarding.

Persons: Finnair, ”, Päivyt Tallqvist, Tallqvist Organizations: Associated Press, Passengers, European Aviation Safety Authority, New Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Helsinki, Finnair

☆ Finnair starts weighing flying passengers at the gate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —We all know what it’s like to have our baggage weighed at an airport check-in. But now, some brave airline passengers are consenting to being weighed themselves before boarding the plane. In a trial by European carrier Finnair at its Helsinki Airport hub, volunteer passengers are being weighed at the departure gate in order to allow the airline to refine weight estimates for planes before takeoff. Korean Air conducted its own weighing program in 2023, while Air New Zealand also did a weight survey last year. Finnair is collecting data for both winter and summer seasons, since passengers tend to wear heavier clothing and coats during the cold Finnish winters.

Persons: “ crouch, ”, you’ve, who’s, Päivyt, Finnair’s, Tallqvist, Alessandro Rampazzo, Finnair, Munnukka Organizations: CNN, Helsinki Airport, Getty, Civil Aviation Authority, European Aviation Safety Authority, Korean Air, Air New, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Locations: Helsinki, AFP, Air New Zealand, Finnish, Munnukka

☆ Finnair has started asking passengers to volunteer to be weighed at the gate, and it's giving them a free baggage tag if they agree
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Finnair said no personal data is being collected along with passenger weight. Finnair uses its own passenger weight measurements, and authorities require that the data is updated every five years. The European Aviation Safety Authority also collects its own data on passenger weight for aircraft mass and balance calculations. Its latest study, in 2022, showed that average passenger weight did not significantly increase or decrease since the last study in 2009. AdvertisementAir New Zealand, Korean Air, Hawaiian Airlines have made similar requests of passengers in the past year, to better understand average weights for safety.

Persons: Finnair, —, Munnukka Organizations: Service, Guardian, European Aviation Safety Authority, Korean Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines, Business Insider Locations: Finnair, Finnair's, Helsinki, Zealand, Korean

HELSINKI (AP) — Ex-Prime Minister Alexander Stubb was projected to win the first round of Finland's presidential election on Sunday and face runner-up Pekka Haavisto in a runoff next month. Finnish public broadcaster YLE projected that Stubb won the first round of the presidential election with 27.3% of the votes, while Haavisto, an ex-foreign minister, took second place with 25.8%. Recent polls suggest that former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, 55, and ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, 65, are the leading contenders. The president also acts as the supreme commander of the Finnish military, a particularly important duty in Europe's current security environment. About 4.5 million citizens were eligible to vote for Finland’s new head of state from an array of nine candidates — six men and three women.

Persons: —, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Stubb, Jussi Halla, aho, Sauli Niinistö, “, ”, Eve Kinnunen, Haavisto, Olli Rehn, Niinistö, Vladimir Putin of, ___ Kostya Manenkov, Sergei Grits Organizations: HELSINKI, YLE, Legal, Nordic, NATO, Union, National Coalition Party, Finns, Bank of Finland, Halla, Associated Press, Helsinki, Green League Locations: Finnish, Stubb, Finland, HELSINKI, Russia, United States, China, Helsinki, Sunday’s, Europe, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Nordic, Finland’s, Sweden, Hungary

☆ Finns go to the polls to elect a new president at an unprecedented time for the NATO newcomer
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Polls across the country opened at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). The president also acts as the supreme commander of the Finnish military, a particularly important duty in Europe's current security environment. They are picking a successor to hugely popular President Sauli Niinistö, whose second six-year term expires in March. Recent polls suggest that former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, 55, and ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, 65, are the leading contenders. Advance vote results will be confirmed soon after polls close and initial results from Sunday's voting are expected by around midnight (2200 GMT).

Persons: Sauli Niinistö, Eve Kinnunen, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Stubb, Haavisto, Jussi Halla, Olli Rehn, Niinistö, Vladimir Putin of Organizations: Nordic, NATO, Union, National Coalition Party, United Nations, Finns, Bank of Finland, Associated Press, Green League Locations: Espoo, Finland, Russia, United States, China, Helsinki, Sunday's, Europe, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Nordic, Finland's, Sweden, Hungary

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